The EmotionAlly Podcast

In this episode, I discuss some hands-on tools for talking with our kids when they have big emotions and when they go to extreme statements and threats because of those emotions. We don't have to be afraid, and there really are meaningful things we can do to help. I discuss what to say to our kids in those moments, how to know when higher intervention is needed, and how to keep our own stability in their "storming." Give it a listen!

In this episode, I interview Sarah, a therapy client and single mom who has learned through hard experience how to be there for her kids when circumstances are hard. We discuss how we can CARE for our kids without CARRYING their emotions. We talk about making self-care intentional. And we discuss respecting the emotions of our children, while still guiding them. We also discuss "mom guilt" and how holding on and persisting is more important than pursuing perfection. Give it a listen!

In this episode, I discuss the necessary pieces to getting our teens to HEAR us and to WANT to connect, rather than just hearing that we are upset, that we are right, and that they're the problem. I discuss how empathy requires no mutual agreement on a topic in order to function well. And I explain three steps to getting solutions to stick with our teens. Give it a listen!

In this episode, I chat with Nikki Harmon, a gifted LMFT Therapist, about some of the things that matter most when it comes to parenting. We talk shame and emotion and how to be the calm at the center of our children's storms. Give it a listen!

In this Week Three episode, I talk with an actual client couple (whose voices have been altered to protect confidentiality). In this month of discussing addiction, I ask them to explain their journey of healing from pornography addiction as a couple. It's powerful stuff—the perspective of a couple who has found their connection again—and healing that lasts. Give it a listen!

In this Week Two episode, I respond to an emailed question from a listener named Patrick.

This month's episodes hover around the topic of addiction and how to address it. As Patrick is dealing with his own addiction to pornography, he wonders if he should tell his partner, or if he should address it on his own. I discuss the reasons for our open disclosure, the best ways to confront the issue for our own selves, and how to safely keep our partner in the loop even when we are struggling. Give it a listen!

In this Week One episode, I discuss the roots beneath addiction and addictive behavior. Though typical episodes are 20 minutes long, due to the importance of this topic, today's episode is about 30 minutes. I explain why the root of addiction is found in attachment, how we can use that lens to more deeply understand our loved ones who struggle, and how attachment can be a guidepost for healing the patterns we want to change in our own lives. I also discuss the prevalence of and recovery process for pornography addiction. Give it a listen!

In this Week Four episode, I talk with a psychiatrist, who helps people heal mental and emotional illness with medicine. He answers commonly-asked questions and addresses what people often worry about when it comes to getting help. He discusses whether medication really works, and how we can better understand the clinical help that is available to us. Because he's my brother, we dig into some questions that might not usually get asked. In so doing, he reminds us we are all human, and explains why we should see ourselves, and each other, through a different lens. Give it a listen!

In this Week Three episode, I talk with an actual client couple (whose voices have been altered to protect confidentiality), and they discuss how they knew they needed therapy, what it was like, and how it helped their relationship heal.

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In this episode, I respond to an emailed question from a listener, Thomas, who wants to know why he struggles to want therapy. I explain both the normalcy of getting help and the strength we can gain by using empathy to build safety and connection. Give it a listen!

Follow on social media:

Insta: @theemotionallypodcast

FB: The Emotion Ally Podcast

Twitter: @emotionallypod